Printing machine



Dec. 9, 1958 c. s. BURTCHAELL 2,863,386 I PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1955 I //vv/v 70/? CLARENCE 5. @URTCHAEL4 his ATTORNEY PRLNTIING MACHINE Clarence S. Burtchaell, Ross, Calif.

Application January 31, 1955, Serial No. 485,261

3 Claims. (Cl. 101212) My invention relates to printing machines; and more particularly to a machine for printing a legend on strip material.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a printing machine for repeatedly printing a legend at close intervals on long strips of material.

Another object is the provision of a machine of the character described which is adjustable to receive varying sizes of strip material.

Still another object is the provision of a strip printing machine which automatically compensates for varying thickness in the strip being printed.

Other objects will be brought out in the following description of the invention. I do not limit myself to the showing made by said description and the drawings, since I may use variant forms of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the arrangement of driving wheel, platen and printing disk.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of my printing machine.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my machine taken in the direction indicated by the arrow 3 of Fig. 1.

,Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the adjusting means for the driving wheel.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the drive wheel, platen and printing disk. The platen is shown in section, and the strip material to be printed is shown in dash lines.

Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive are drawn to a scale approximately one-fourth actual size. Fig. 5 is drawn approximately one-half actual size.

Broadly considered, the printing machine of my invention comprises a journal frame on which is arranged a platen of a shape and size to receive a strip of the material to be printed. The material to be printed may be in the form of a flat strip of metal or plastic, or it may be of such a shape as to be formed by extrusion through dies. iently holding the strip material in sliding engagement with the platen and advancing it therealong. A printing disk journaled on the journal frame is arranged to engage continuously the strip material to print thereon at close intervals the legend desired. Means are provided for driving the material-holding and advancing means, and the printing disk.

In greater detail, and referring now to the drawings, my printing machine comprises a journal frame conveniently formed by a large rectangular steel plate 3 having a smaller plate 4 superimposed thereon to increase the thickness of the frame.

The journal frame, comprising the combined plates 3 and 4, stands upright on one of its long edges; and is supported in this position by oppositely extending legs 6 attached to the lower edge portion of the frame. This arrangement of journal frame and legs is best shown in Fig. 3.

Means are provided adjacent the platen for resilfre States Patent 0 2,863,386 Fatented Dec. 9, 1958 To receive and hold the material to be printed, a platen 8 is provided. Shown best in Figs. 1 and 3, the platen comprises a length of angle bar extending along the journal frame in a position inclined to the horizontal so as to facilitate discharge of the strips after printing. At its lower end the platen is adjustably pivoted to the frame by links 12 and 13. Pivot block 14 fixed to the longitudinally extending guide stringer 16 secured to the platen, provides a pivotal bearing for the platen at the other end. Adjustment of the platen is accomplished by opening or closing the knuckle formed by the two links 12 and 13.

As seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the guide stringer 16 which conveniently may be made of wood, and the vertical leg 17 of the platen guide the strip until it is engaged by the drive wheel 18. The drive wheel is fixed for rotation with shaft 19 journaled in the frame; and lies parallel to the face thereof, with its lower periphery spaced a short distance above the platen. Preferably, the periphery of the drive wheel is formed with a channel 20 therearound, to the bottom of which is applied a friction surface, such as a strip of rubber.

As the strip to be printed passes under the drive wheel (Fig. 5), it is frictionally engaged by the rubber covered bottom of the channel. Rotation of the drive wheel propels the strip along the platen.

As the strip moves along the platen, it is printed with the desired legend. This is accomplished by means of a printing disc 21 fixed for rotation with shaft 22 journaled in the frame. The disk lies in a plane with the drive wheel, but is positioned below the platen. A slot 23 formed in the platen above the printing disk provides for the passage of the legend printing means or type blocks 24, which are secured to the periphery of the printing disk. A conventional ink pot 25 feeding an ink roller 26 continuously applies ink to the type face.

It will be seen that adjustment of links 12 and 13 will 'position the platen so that the type will bear against the underside of the strip with more or less pressure, as adjusted by the links 12 and 13.

Means are provided for adjusting the spacing of the drive wheel from the platen so as to accommodate strip material of varying thickness.

As shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, the drive wheel 18 is fixed on shaft 19 passing through and journaled in the eccentric bearing 28, which is in turn journaled in the frame. A lever 29 fixed to the eccentric bearing provides a means for bodily shifting the axis of rotation of shaft 19 to effect positioning of the drive wheel. Adjustment is maintained by an adjustable cam disk 31 hearing against the lever 29 in opposition to tension spring 32 interposed between the lever and the journal frame.

To drive the various components of my printing machine I provide a small electric motor 36 fixed on the rear side of the journal frame, and driving a gear reduction unit 37 by a V-belt 38. The gear reduction unit, by means of sprocket 39 and chain 41 thereon, drives sprocket 42 on shaft 19 and sprocket 43 on shaft 22. Sprockets 42 and 43 are of equal size so as to provide equal speeds of rotation to the drive wheel and printing disk. A sprocket 44 fixed on shaft 46 drives ink roller 26 at a speed synchronized to that of the printing disk. Tension in the chain is maintained by an idler sprocket 47, freely rotatable on the pivoted crank arm 48. Tension spring 49 interposed between the crank arm and the journal frame maintains tension in the chain.

I claim:

1. A machine for printing a legend on a strip, comprising a journal frame, a platen mounted on the journal frame on one side thereof for supporting the strip to be printed, a drive wheel journaled on the journal frame on the platen side thereof, means for adjusting the position of the drive Wheel to continuously frictionally engage and resiliently press the strip against the platen and propel it therealong, a printing disk having thereon means for printinga legend and'journaled on the journal frame in position to press the printing means on the'strip on the platen supported side thereof as the strip continuously moves along the platen, and means including a motor mounted on the journal frame on the side thereof opposite theplaten and said drive Wheel for driving the printing disk and drive Wheel insynchronism.

2. A machine forprinting a-legend on a strip, comprising a journal frame, a pivotally adjustable apertured platen mounted on the journal frame for supporting the strip to be printed, a drive Wheel jcurnaled on the journal frame, means for adjusting the position of the drive wheelto continuously'frictionally engage and resiliently press the strip againstjthe platen adjacent said aperture and propel it therealong, a printing disk having thereon meansfor printing a legend and journaled on the journal frame in position to communicate through said'platen aperture to press the printing means on the strip as the strip continuously moves along the platen past said aperture, and means including a motor for driving the printing disk and drive wheel in synchronisrn.

3. A machine for printing a legend on a strip, comprising a vertically arranged journal frame, a platen pivotally mounted on the frame in an adjustably inclined position for supporting thereon the strip to be printed, a drive i Wheel journaled in the frame on one side of the platen,

means for adjusting the position of the drive Wheel in relation to the platen to adjust the degree of frictional engagement of the wheel with the strip to resiliently press the strip against the platen and propel it therealong, a

. printing disk having means thereon for printing a legend and journaled on the frame on the other side of the platen inposition to press the printing means on the strip as the strip moves alongthe platen, means journaled on the frame adjacent the printing disk for applying ink to the printing means, and means including a motor and a chain drive for driving the drive Wheel and printing disk and said ink applying means at synchronous speeds.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 

